US3161237A - Control method and system for aircraft powerplants comprising a gas turbine driving avariable pitch propelling device - Google Patents

Description

J. SZYDLOWSKI 3,161,237

SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE Dec. 15, 1964 CONTROL METHOD AND PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE 11 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20 1961 Dec. 15, 1964 szYn ows 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 41w? 4 :im

D 1954 J. SZYDLOWSKI CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 20, 1961 Dec. 15, 1964 J. SZYDLOWSKI CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE Filed March 20, 1961 PI' I'CH PROPELLING DEVICE 11 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 15, 1964 SZYDLOWSKI 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1961 11 ee eet 5 Dec. 15, 1964 I J. SZYDLOWSKI 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE V PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1961 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 Dec. 15, 1964 J. SZ'YDLOWSKI 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1961 A7 A 6 52 0.; as;

5 4 3. L j as ll Sheets-Sheet 7 F29./2d 53.126 'FIyJZc Q 6mm 47 Jamm P1 132- 1 f6? 193 I a H 46 165' J96 E I. 1% 17 1'7; 0.; 202 7/6; /?6

f4} 1 /5 a4 fZ/g m Dec. 15, 1964 J. SZYDLOWSKI 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed March 20, 1961 Dec. 15, 1964 J. SZYDLOWSKI 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1961 ll ets-Sheet 9 Fly/6a 52 164 0 H A7 Z-PI Dec. 15, 1964 SZYDLOWSKl 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE Filed March 20. 1961 11 h ets-Sheet l0 Dec. 15, 1964 J. SZYDLOWSKI 3,161,237

CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT POWERPLANTS COMPRISING A GAS TURBINE DRIVING A VARIABLE PITCH PROPELLING DEVICE Filed March 20, 1961 ll Sheets-Sheet 11 Fig. 1.9

9 i? i 7 55* I 50 I ,& 25.9 L6! f4 I 256 21%. =EZJ United States Patent Ofifice 39 Claims. 61. 170-13574) This invention relates to an improved control method and system particularly directed towards a control method and system for an aircraft powerplant comprising a gas turbine drivably connected to an aerodynamic propelling device having blades the pitch of which may be varied, examples being the pitch of a variable pitch propeller or the collective pitch of a helicopter rotor.

The invention relates, more particularly, to control methods and systems wherein turbine speed is maintained constant by a governor controlling the quantity of fuel delivered into the turbine, propeller pitch being controlled independently in relation to some parameter selected to enable it to be adjusted from the feathered position up to maximum reverse, over the whole permissible working range of the gas turbine, with due regard for the maximum permissible thermal load.

As described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 1,600 filed by the applicant on January 11, 1960, now patent No. 3,097,700, recourse has already been had to such control methods and systems wherein the selected parameter is the temperature t of the gas on entry into, or on exit from, the turbine, this parameter being used in continuous comparison with a preselected maximum permissible temperature T for that gas, whereby, through the medium of suitable electrical devices, control is achieved over the propeller pitch or the helicopter rotor collective pitch, such control being a function of the maximum permissible thermal load for the gas turbine.

Recourse has also been had to a device to prevent the turpopropeller turbine from overspeeding in the event of a dive or a steep let-down, by causing automatic setting out of the variable pitch propeller in order to increase the load on the engine, except in cases where a pitch reduction is commanded.

With a view to achieving full control turbopropellers of the type specified hereinabove while at the same time maintaining a regulation system fully adapted to a turbineto-propeller or turbine-to-rotor form of coupling, the present invention has for its object a control method for aircraft powerplants comprising a gas turbine driveably connected to a variable pitch propeller or to a helicopter rotor, which consists in maintaining the turbine rate of revolution constant by means of a tachometric metering of the quantity of fuel delivered to the engine, simultaneously and continuously comparing, on the one hand, the actual rate of fuel flow with the theoretical maximum and rates of flow that can be applied to the turbine and, on the other hand, the actual temperature of the gas on exit from the turbine with the preselected maximum permissible temperature of that gas, controlling the propeller pitch or the rotor collective pitch, either manually, without any form of mechanical stop between the minimum and maximum permissible pitches, or automatically, in terms of the result of said comparisons, and, in the case of a propeller, in effecting an automatic increasing of the pitch should the tachometric metering system become momentarily inoperative in flight, except in cases where a reduction in pitch is commanded, or should the propeller be set at zero-thrust pitch. This method ensures that the propeller pitch or the rotor collective pitch is Fatented Dec. 15, 1964 prevented from reaching values leading to a gas temperature in excess of the maximum permissible temperature or to a rate of fuel flow greater or less than the theoretical maximum and minimum rates of flow, and, more specifically in the case of a propeller, that the blade pitch is prevented from automatically descending below the Zero-thrust angle or the engine from overspeeding.

In addition to the parameter I, to wit the gas temperature on entry into or on exit from the turbine, the method according to the invention utilizes the Q actual parameter, namely the actual rate of fuel flow into the turbine. If P and P be taken to designate the total air head respectively on entry into and on exit from the compressor, Q the maximum theoretical rate of flow which, for a given rate of speed, enables maximum power to be obtained without overheating or surging taking place, and Q the theoretical minimum rate of flow which ensures satisfactory operation without a falling off of the rate of revolution or a degradation of the turbine, yet which provides sufficient power to secure complete safety for the aircraft, then it is notable, and the chief advantages of this invention reside therein precisely,

(a) That the parameter (P -P accounts for ambient air conditions, aircraft speed, air intake duct eificiency, compressor and diffuser condition and turbine rotational speed;

(12) That the value of the parameter (P P is instantaneous and continuous, Whereas the measurement of such parameters as gas temperature on exit from the turbine may involve a slight time-lag;

(c) That the law of variation of the theoretical optimum rate of flow, referred to hereinafter as the maximum rate of flow (Q in terms of the parameter (Pg-P1), is linear and therefore conducive to straight forward engineering solutions; and

(d) That the theoretical minimum rate of flow (Q required for the turbine is linked to the maximum rate of flow by the simple relation Qm n Qmax for a given gas turbine, as experimentally ascertained by applicant. In fact the various tests made by applicant have demonstrated that the law relating a rate of flow Q to the parameter (P P in order to obtain a determined temperature at the inlet of the turbine is of the form: Q=K (Pg-P1), K being a constant which has different values K and K for the precedingly specifled Q and Q whereby:

gmin i constant x max 2 1 constant supply line to the turbine, or in terms of the cross-section of a variable constriction that fuel line, in respect of which cross-section said diiference between the fuel pressures is maintained constant.

The invention further has for its object a control systern for aircraft powerplants of the type referred to, which enables the method specified above to be performed and which is characterized by the fact that it comprises a first lever to control engine revolutions, acting upon a speed governor drlvably connected to the turbine and designed to ensure, directly or otherwise, adjustment of the quantity of fuel delivered to the turbine in terms of the desired rate of revolution, a second lever to control the blad pitch, coupled to the propeller or rotor pitchvarying system in order to permit manual control over the gas turbine and the blade pitch in terms of the desired flight conditions and, in the automatic control mode, to permit presetting of the propeller or rotor pitch, a temperature I regulator comprising means both to set the maximum permissible gas temperature and to compare that temperature with theactual gas temperature, a fuel flow regulator comprising means to set the theoretical maximum rate of flow, means to compare that rate of flow with the actual rate of flow and a single dial to provide visualization of those two rates of flow and of the theoretical,

minimum rate of flow, said two regulators beingconnected to the coupling between the pitch control lever and the pitch varying system in order to limit that pitch, without any possibility of overriding action by the pilot,'to

. 4 the engine and a device sensitive to' the speed to be adjusted, as described in said U.S. Patent No. 3,002,502.

Further particularities of the invention will become apparent from the following description given with reference to the accompanying drawings which are provided by way of example only and not in any limiting sense, and this description will make it clear how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings the position corresponding either to equality between said two temperatures or to equality between the actual rate of fuel flow and the theoreticalmaximum rate of fuel flow, a device sensitive to that position of the tachometric metering device wherein it is against its closed limit stop and a device sensitiveto the difference between the air head behind the propeller and the total air head clear of the disc swept by the propeller, these ,two devices being connected to the coupling between the pitch control lever and the pitch varying system to ensure automatic setting out ofthe propeller blade pitch angle when the tacho metric metering device, is against its closed limit stop,

except in cases where a reduction in blade pitch is commanded or the propeller is set at zero-thrust pitch. The coupling between the pitch control lever, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the'pitch varying system, the temperature and fuel regulators and the devices respectively sensitive to the position of the tachometric'metering device against its closed limit stop and to the propeller in its Zero-thrust blade setting, as well as the links between these regulators and'devices and said coupling are preferably in the form of electric circuits.

Asspecified in the aforementioned U.S. patent applica- FIG. 1 is a schematic overall'view of a first embodiment of the mechanical portion of a turbopropeller control system according to the invention.

'FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the means used to determine and compare the theoretical maximum and actual rates of flow in the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3a is a graph showing the theoretical maximum and minimum rates of'fiow plotted against the parameter 2* 1)- v FIG. 3b is a graph in which displacement of the metering device in the systemfor determining the maximum flow in FIGS. land 2 is plotted against the parameter g V 2 1)-' FIG. 30 is a graph wherein passageway cross-section throughathe metering device is plotted against displacement of the latter.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of the visualization system for comparing the actual flow Q with the Q and Q flows in. the form of percentages thereof, for

the system shown in FIG'..1.

FIG. 5 is another visualization system for the system of FIG.'1. f

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an overall control-system in accordance with theinvention designed to detect the thrust ofthe'propeller, i.e'. to indicate whether the tion Ser. No. 1,600 filed on January 11, 1960, the rotational speed of the turbine, once the latter has been started, remains constant underall operating-conditions? 7 until the pilot stops the engine. Indeed, once the-engine has gathered speed, the pilot governs the engine with a single control, which makes for very great simplicity'and precludes mishandling of the controls. 7

Being basically electrical in design, thepitch control in FIG. -7.

FIG. 9 is anoverall viewof the electrical portion of v the blade pitch control system shown in FIG. 1, the powerplant being in stopped configuration and'the propelsystem adapts itself particularly well to -a propeller the blade pitch of which is electrically controlled. However,- it remains perfectly adaptableto .any'other system 'of" bladepitch control. i

' Insofar as the turbinerotationalspeed control is con- I cerned, this is such that it permits starting, gathering speed andregulation over a certain working range, the. speed governor with its very short response time-lag allied to a high degree ofstability maintaining the selected speed I This rotational constant over the range of regulation; speed control is isodromic, preferably of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. NO. 714,798,'I10W1P3I6I1I No. 3,002,502, filed on February 12, 1958 by the applicant.

-' servo-controlled metering device in the system illustrated in FIGS; 10 and 11, in the case of a constant fuel-pres- 0 sure differential across said'metering'device.

An isodromic control comprises a distributing 'slidevalve ada'pted'to feed with a liquid under pressure,'on the one hand, a servo-control piston mechanically "connected to a regulation control device for the fuel feed of 'anfin ternal' combustion engine and, on the other hand, a tem-.

po rary follow-upacting piston hydraulically conneeted to said servo-control piston, according as the actualnumber of revolutions of the engine is lo'weror higher than the number of revolutions tobe adjusted, the two faces of said temporaryfollow-up acting pistonbeing' interconnected through an adjustable restricted valve providing alaminar flow and being respectively connected totwo 1 chambers housing the ends of. said slide-valve on which act respectively a device sen'sitive tofthe'actual speedof ler at ground zero-thrust pitch, with the aircraft at rest. FIG. 10 is an overall schematic .viewof the mechanical portion of a turbopropeller control' system in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of the means for determining and comparing the theoretical'maximum and minimum rates offiow in the system shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 12a is a graph showing the-actual rate of flow plotted against, the passageway cross-sectionthrough the FIG. -l2b is a graph in whichthe passageway crosssection jth'rough the servo controlled meteringdevice, re-

quired to obtain the'Q rate offlowwith the constant .fuel pressure differential referred to, is plotted against the, parameter (Pg-P1) for the syste'millust'rated FIGS.

lOand l1. 7,

FIG. 12c isa graph showing the Q rate 'ofiflow plottedagainst the parameter (P x.P

FIG. 13 is a schematic'illustration of'the system for ,visualizing determination'and comparison of the g b Q and, Q ratesj of flow, in thesystem shown in FIG.10.* j I FIG. 14 is an overall schematicvie w of aithird emboditrol system in accordance with. the inventiom ment of the mechanical portion of a turbopropeller con FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of the means used to determine and compare the theoretical maximum an'd actual rates of flow in the system shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16a is a graph showing the actual rate of flow plotted against the pressure differential across the constriction in the system illustrated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 16b shows the Q rate of How plotted against the parameter (Pg-P1).

FIGS. 16c and 16d respectively show the angular displacement and the radius, of the cam in FIG. 15, plotted against the parameter (P -P FIG. 17 is a schematic view of the system providing visualization of the determination and comparison of the Q Q and Q rates of flow in the system shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is an overall schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the mechanical portion of a turbopropeller control system in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 19 is a schematic illustration of the system for determining the theoretical rate of flow shown in FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a schematic illustration of the system in FIG. 18 for comparing the actual rate of flow with the Q rate of flow.

FIG. 21 is a schematic illustration of the system used in the layout of FIG. 18 for providing visualization of the determination of the Q Q and Q rates of flow.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the turbopropeller comprises a compressor 1, a turbine 2 and a propeller 3 with an electrically-controlled pitch-varying system of any type well known per se, controlled by an electric motor 4 provided with low pitch and high pitch Cll'ClllllS. The turbopropeller is controlled by means of twov levers, to wit by an engine speed control or throttle lever 5 and a blade pitch control lever 6, these levers being movable along guideways 5a and 6a respectively.

The components associated to the throttle lever 5 comprise a fuel pump 7 drawing fuel from a tank 8, via a flameout cock 25, and delivering it into a conduit 9 in which is interposed a cock 10 operated by the lever 5 and equipped with a by-pass 11 and an adjustable idling speed jet 12. The pump itself comprises a by-pass 13 with adjusting valve 14 and a by-pass 15 embodying a constriction 16. Into the conduit 9 is inserted a fuel flow metering device 17 the degree of opening of which is controlled by a tachometric unit 18 coupled to the turbine through an appropriate drive 19. The rotational speed setting lever 20 is connected to the cock 10 by a suitable linkage 21 and a bell-crank 22, the complete assembly being controlled by the lever 5. The conduit 9 downstream of the metering device 17 leads up to the fuel injector nozzles of the turbine and is equipped with a master cut-off valve 23 which is electrically operated in response to an electromagnetic device 24. A manually operated flame-out cock 26 is fitted between the metering device 17 and the electric valve 23. This manually operated flame-out cock 26 is operatively connected to a lever 27 through a suitable mechanical drive 27a. The lever 27 acts upon a reversing switch 29 which, through the medium of a starting box'55 (FIG. 9), causes the electric valve 23 to close when the propeller is hydraulically feathered. Since the starting box does not fall within the scope of the invention, it will not be described. 7

A device 110, which senses, via passageways 111 and 112, the air pressures P and P on entry into and on exit from the compressor 1, controls the displacement of a metering device 113 inserted into the conduit 9 between the cock 10 and the metering device 17. The fuel pressures p and p upstream and downstream of metering device 113 are communicated to a comparator 114 via passageways 115 and 116 respectively. The comparator 114 is electrically connected via a cluster 117 to the circuits 30a used for coupling the temperature regulator 30 and the pitch control lever 6 to the blade pitch varying motor 4; I

Blade pitch controlfor the variable pitch propeller 3 is ensured by the electric motor 4 mounted underneath the propeller spinner, and this motor receives its commands from either the comparator 114, the temperature regulator 30, the devices 141 and 157 described hereinbelow, or the pitch control lever 6, depending on the mode of operation. The temperature regulator 30 comprises a potentiometer 31 the slider 32 of which serves to set the temperature T which is not to be exceeded by the gas on exit from the turbine. One or more thermocouples 22 positioned inside the turbine exhaust nozzle 34 provide the temperature regulator 30 with indications of the actual temperature t of the gas as it exhausts from the turbine.

The blade pitch variations are transmitted to the pitch control lever 6 which carries a disc 35, and are indicated on the guide 6a by means of a cable system 36 operating in conjunction with pulleys 37, 38 and 39. The-pulley 38 carries a cam 40 the purpose of which is to operate four microswitches 41, 42, 43 and 44.

The pitch control lever 6, which is fitted to the shaft 45 carrying the disc 35 with slight friction, is rotatably united thereto, when no manual action is exerted upon the lever, through the medium of two springs 46 bearing against two stops 47 carried by the disc. The lever 6 carries an extension 48 the purpose of which is to close normally-open contacts 49 and 50 inserted into the low and high-pitch circuits respectively of the motor 4.

The throttle lever 5 acts upon two contacts 51 and 52 which are inserted into the circuit of the starting box 55 and which, once both are closed, enable the turbine to be started.

As shown in FIG. 2, the device comprises a capsule 118, against the end of which thrusts a spring 119 adjustably tensioned by a screw 120 and to the interior of which is communicated the air pressure P via the passageway 111. This capsule 118 is enclosed in a chamber 121 into the interior of which the air pressure P is communicated through the passageway 112. A rod 122 fixed to the end of capsule 118 carries, on its free end, the metering device 113 inserted into the conduit 9. Deformations of the capsule 118 in response to the pressure differential which it sustains cause linear displacements of the metering device 113 proportional to the value of (P -P and hence to the value of Q Two pipes 115 and 116 tapped off the conduit 9 respectively communicate, to the comparator 114, the fuel pressure p prevailing upstream of the metering device 113, and the fuel pressure p prevailing downstream of the latter and upstream of the metering device 17 of tachometric regulator 18. This comparator consists of two capsules 125 and 126, the former receiving the pressure 7 and the latter the pressure p Capsule 126 comprises a spring 127 fitted with a tensioning screw 128. The ends of capsules 125 and 126 are connected together by a rod 129 onto which is fixed a pin 130. A beam lever 131, one end of which is fitted with a head 132 swivelling in a yoke 133, the position of which is adjustable by means of a screw 134, incorporates a slot or slideway 135 into which engages the pin 130.

Two travelling contacts 136 and 137 are positioned on either side of the beam lever 131. Two fixed contacts 138 and 139 flank the contact 136, and a fixed contact 140 ispositioned in proximity to the contact 137. The ratio between the respective distances of contacts 136 and 137 from the head 132 is identical to the ratio between the Q and Q values.

The manner of operation of the above system, to be described in detail later, is based upon the following'principles:

(1) Variations in the theoretical maximum rate of flow Q and in the minimum permissible ra of fl Qinin are proportional to the variations in (P P as shown in FIG. 3a. a

(2) Displacements of the metering device 113 are proportion-a1 to the variations inthe parameter (Pg-P1) as g I shown in FIG. 3b.

(3) The law of variations of the passageway crosssection through the metering device 113 in terms of dis placementof the latter is shown in FIG. 30. p

(4) The rate of fuel flow through the conduit 9, according to the section determined by the position of metering device 113, is equal to the Q rate of flow when the fuel if (Pg-Pm) becomes equal to zero before the Q rateof flow has reached a value equal to Ow When the value (P -P ispositive, the tongue 153 leaves the arm 154, whereupon the latter comes to bear against its resting contact 156, thereby arresting automatic pitch coarsening. Contacts 154, l55;are connected by a cluster 160 tothe'circuits 30a used to couple the temperature regulator 30 and thepitch control lever 6 to the actuating motor 4 of the blade Jpitch varying system.

If the pressure P is sampled at the entry of the intake duct of compressor 1, it will be equal to the pressure P zflow through the conduit metering device 113, is a direct function of the pressure a differential Ap across the metering device 113.

(6) Displacements of the pin 130 of comparator 114 are proportional to variations in Ap and therefore proportional also to variations in the Q rate of flow.

In view of the foregoing, joint operation of systems 110 and 114 is as follows:

The metering device 113 is positioned in terms of the i value (P P and determined a section ofiered for passage of the'fuel through the conduit 9,such that the rate of flow through it is equal to Q provided the Ap is exactly equal to the preset value. In this configuration, the beam lever 131 is maintained in the position shown in FIG. 2. If, with (P ;P remainingconstant,

the Ap 'increases,the beam lever 131 moves in the direction of the arrow f, and this indicates that the Q rate of flow is tending to exceed the Q a rate of flow. Conversely, if the Ap decreases, the balance lever 131 moves defined precedingly. I v FIG. 7 shows a rotational speed regulating device 18 of the type described inthe aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 714,798, now Patent No. 3,00 2,502,' equipped with an overspeed safetydevic'ef157 or device for detecting a zeroizing of the fuel feeding in flight.

The device incorporating the Iisodr'ome regulator comprises adistributor 1m which is fed by an oil pump 2m incorporating a by-pass 3m and a regulating valve 3am and in which is displaceable aslide valve 6m sustaining, on theone hand, the action of the throttle lever m via 'a pinion7 m and a rack 8m and, on the other, that of governor 'weightsj9m driven bythetransmission 10m coupled to the turbine, a spring-11m being interposed betweenthe rack and the slide valve. The distributor is connected to an isodromic piston 12m and to a compensation valve 13m providinglarnina'r flow. The isodromic piston actuates an operative'or servo-control piston 14m the stem 15m of which is' provided with a tapered controlling section inserted into the conduit 9 leading from theffuel pump 7 to the turbine injector nozzles, said stem 7 acting as a fuel metering device.

in the direction of the arrow f indicatingthat the 'Q m:

rate of flow is decreasing relative to the Q rate. The amplitude of the displacements of beam lever 131 is proportional to the variationin the Qg rate of flow relative to the Q rate. The various contacts mounted on functions: 7 (l) When co blade pitch can be increased automatically or m or else be decreased manually only.

ntacts 136, '138 are closed,.the"propeller anually,

A passageway 17m, tapped off the housing 18m in which travelsthe servo-controlledoperative piston 14m, leads-the oil pressure, exerted on the face 38 of this piston, which-is connected'tothe metering device 15m, to

"the interiorof a capsule 19m tothe end of'which is either side ,of the beam lever 131 fulfil the following i welded a pushrod 20m.- a

This capsule 19m is housed in'a chamber 21m provided in a body722m. A spring 23m is inserted between the end of the capsule remote from that communicating with the passageway 17m and the bottom 'ofchamber (2) When contacts 136,.139 are closed,.the propeller ;blade pitch decreases automatically until contacts 136,

138 are closed once more. I

( 3) When contacts 137, 140are open, the blade p itch can be decreased automatically or manually. I

(4) When contacts 137, 140 are closed, the blade pitch increases automatically at least until these contactsvopen again.

Ad shown in FIG. 6, permits measurement of the difference these heads being sensed .by Pitot tubes. As long as the diiference (P -P 'is positive, the propeller exerts for spring 144 anda tensioning screw 14S th'erefonsaid'c'apevice 141 for detecting the 'thrustof the propeller,

varying system. 7 a v V When, in the event of a steep let-down or a dive, the

' between the'air head P behind the propeller and the'total head Pm clear of the disc swept by thepropeller, both 21m. The pushrod20m-acts upon the'stem 2 4m of an electrically conductive p1ate'25mhouse dfin a chamber 26m in the body 22m and biased towards said pushrod by a spring 27m. In the chamber 26m are arranged two contacts. 34m and 35m which are connected, directlyor otherwise, by conductors 36m and 37m to the high pitch field winding of the, actuating motor in the propeller pitch servo-control oil pressure acting against the face 38 of piston 14m connected to metering device 15m drops to' zero, thereby fetching thejmetering deviceagainst its closed limit stop, the spring'23m crushes the'capsule 1 9m; 'At the same time, thejspring 27m thruststhe mo .blle plate m up to the contacts34m and m, thereby closing the circuitwhich directly or indirectly ienergizes sule'being'housed in an enclosure 146 to which is'corm, municated via" the passageway 147, the, pressure/P I sampled behind the propeller. Thezrod 148 fixed to the end of capsule '14-3 transmits, through a bell-"crank 149 .anda link-rod 150, the deformations sustainedlby capsule' 143 to'ia pointer 151 which travels round a dial 152 graduated in, algebraic values of (Ph'fPhl).

The end of rod 148 carries thereon a tongue 153mm,. 'wlien; the value (P P isequaltozero, establishes contact between the arm 154 and the fixed contact 155 and closes the pitch increase control circuit (hereafterlre ferred'fto'as the fhigh-pitch circuit) and-which, intact, act'as-ia substitute for the contacts1317,1400? 1 unless a pitch reductionis commanded;

'the pitch var-ying system topro'vide pitch coarseni ng.

Closureof contacts 34m, 35m by mobile plate 25m, namely'-'when the metering device m reaches its closed limit stop,: causes automatic pitch coarsening until. this .metering l-device begins. to open once more, that is to sayuntilthe isodromeregulator becomes operative again,

1 Contacts 34m} 35m are connected, v1a the cluster 36m,

' 37m, to the'circuitsBOa respectively coupling the temperature regulator boxf30f and the pitch control lever 6 to the actuating motor 1 of thepitch 'varyingTsystern. The regulating system additionallycomprises a pressure bleed-controlled by alever 158, which isconnectedgto the flame-out cock- 26 thrpugh'jthe{transmission zline 2j7a and v 1 which operatesa cock moun tedion the tachom'et'ric regu 'rlator 18 which, when ,open, enables oil undegpressure 9 to be delivered to the propeller 3 via the line 159, providing the turbine is still rotating so that oil pressure may prevail in the regulator 18. The pilot can therefore feather the propeller in an emergency by operating the lever 27 if the propeller is designed accordingly.

In order to avoid engine speed fluctuations due to turbine inertia when blade pitch changes are commanded by the devices described hereinabove, it is indispensable for the latter to be supplemented by a phase lead mechanism designed to modify the position of the isodrome regulator metering device in the appropriate direction in order to modify the rate of fuel flow, when a pitch change command is made, without waiting for the other regulating components to respond, and in such a way as to ensure that turbine rate of revolution remains steady.

It is necessary to this end, when blade pitch changes are commanded, to cause the tension in the techometric regulator spring 11m to vary in the required sense by an amount such that the metering device 15m is caused to move so as to predetermine a rate of fuel flow which will prevent the change in turbine speed that would otherwise take place when the pitch change command is executed.

As shown in FIG. 8, the phase lead mechanism is constituted in the following manner. The governed-speedsetting-pinion 7m is provided with helical teeth and is slidable along its drive shaft 300, the latter being rotatable by means of a lever 5m. The rack 8m meshing with pinion 7m is likewise provided with helical teeth. Any travel motion by pinion 7m along its shaft causes longitudinal displacement of the rack 8m, the result of which is to cause the tension in spring 11m to be varied in the same way as would be caused by operation of lever 5m.

Travel motion of the pinion 7m in the appropriate direction is provoked automatically as soon as either the pitch increasing or the pitch decreasing circuit of the propeller is energized, either automatically or through operation of the pitch control lever, by a hydraulic device comprising two pistons 301 and 301a respectively coupled to either side of pinion 7m by struts 302 in such a way as to permit angular travel of the lever 5m. The pistons 301 and 301a are mounted in housings 303 and 303a. Springs 304 and 304a, inserted between the pistons 301 and 3010 and the ends of their respective housings, serve to equilibrate the system. The piston faces 305 and 305a, respectively acted upon by springs 304 and 304a, receive the oil under pressure delivered by the pump 2m via passageways 306 and 307 or 307a.

A distributor 3%, maintained in equilibrium by springs 309 and 309a, almost completely obturates the orifice of passageways 307 and 307a, yet permits slight communication of the latter with return passageways 313 and 313a to the reservoir. Two electromagnets 310 and 31011 are designed to displace the distributor 308 in onedirection or the other, thereby placing one or the other of passageways 307 or 307a in communication with passgeway 306. Electromagnet 310 is connected by an electric line 311 to the high pitch circuit of the temperature regulator, while a line 311a connects electromagnet 310a to the low pitch circuit of that regulator. Two adjustable metering devices 312 and 312a are inserted into passageways 367 and 307a respectively.

Operation of this system takes place as follows: When the pilot or the regulating systems described precedingly command an increase in pitch, say, the electromagnet 310, which is energized by the high pitch circuit of the temperature regulator, displaces the distributor in the direction of the arrow 1, thereby placing the passageways 306 and 307 in communication. The oil pressure delivered by the pump 3m is exerted against the face 305 of the piston 301. The compound consisting of pistons 301 and 301a and pinion 7m then moves in the direction of the arrow F, as a result of which the rack 8m is translated in the direction tending to compress the spring 11m, thereby setting a speed to be governed which i0 is higher than that set by the position of the lever 5m. During its motion in the direction of arrow the metering device 308 places the passageway 307a in communication with the passageway 313a, thereby enabling the oil behind the piston 301a to return to the reservoir.

As soon as the pitch stops increasing, the electromagnet 310 ceases to be energized, whereupon the metering device 308 reverts to its position of equilibrium, the spring 304a relaxes and thrusts the compound consisting of pistons 301 and 301a and of pinion 7m back to its initial position, and the tachometric regulator slide valve 6m returns into position to govern the speed set by the lever 5m. This return to the initial position takes place at a speed determined by the setting given to the metering device 312. Restoration of communication between passageways 307 and 313 enables the oil behind piston 301 to return to the reservoir.

In the case of a pitch reduction command, the distributor is thrust in the opposite direction to arrow 1 and, by the same process as that described above, causes the rack 8m to be positioned for a lower governed speed than that set by the position of the lever 5m.

The electro-mechanical equipment illustrated in FIG. 9 is similar to that shown in FIG. 2 of the aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 1,600. The said electromechanical equipment comprises a main line 53 which is supplied by a source of current and to which is connected a line 54 leading to the main starting circuits 55, a contact 52 being inserted in said line 54. A second line, connected to the line 53, is led to two fixed contact points of two relays 57 and 58, and these contact points are respectively connected to the two other fixed contact points of said relays, via the travelling arms thereof, the latter fixed contact points being respectively connected to the low pitch field winding 59 and the high pitch field winding 60 of the motor 4. A reversing switch 61 has its travelling arm connected to the line 53, its two fixed contact points being respectively connected to the travelling arm of the reversing switch 29 and to one of the fixed contact points thereof.

A second reversing switch 67 has its travelling arm connected to the line 53. One of its fixed contact points is connected to a general control line 70 and its other fixed contact point to a feathering microswitch 44 which is in turn connected to the winding 72 of the high pitch control relay 5?. The line 70 is connected to the pitch control lever 6 and leads, on the one hand, to a G pitch microswitch 43 and, on the other, to a normally-open automaticity button 73, which, as disclosed in said U.S. patent application Serial No. 1,600, acts when closed as a means for automatically bringing the turbine to its maximum power under the control of the temperature comparing means.

A reverse microswitch 41 is inserted between the contact point 49 of pitch control lever 6 and the winding 74 of low pitch control relay S7, The windings 72 and 74 are earthed.

A g pitch microswitch 42 is connected to the main starting circuits 55. The pitch g is the zero-thrust pitch while G is a positive pitch greater than g.

A three-way commutator switch 75 has its travelling arm connected to the second fixed contact point of the reversing switch 29, and its fixed contact points are connected to the main starting circuits 55, to which is further connected the control winding 24 of the electric valve. The contact 51, which is a safety contact for closure of the cock 10, is inserted into a circuit leading up to the main starting circuits 55.

The thermocouple or thermocouples 33 are connected, through the medium of a cold-end thermal corrector 80, to a summator 81 housed in the temperature regulator box 30. This summator is connected to slider 32 of the potentiometer 31 the purpose of which is to set the maximum permissible temperature T and the extremities of which are connected to an equalized-potential source 82.

V the winding of relay C.

A resistance-capacity circuit 83, which is energized by each manual or automatic pitch commandQfurnishes a follow-up voltage which, introduced into the summator '81, prevents an oscillation in the system as a whole' The.

summator 81 feeds an amplifier: 84 which, through the medium of two multivibrators 85 and 86', suppliesto a switching box 87 a voltage'which is the result of the comparison made in summator 81 between the voltage supplied by the thermocouple or thermocouples 33 under the action of the actual gas temperature t and .that furnished by the potentiometer 31 which is in correspondence with the selected temperature T. I v

This switching box comprises four relays A, B, C and D. Relay A has thereon a winding which is connected .to the multivibrator S and this winding acts upon a travelling arm 90 connected to the contact 50 and causes it to move, from a fixed contact point 91 connected to the feathering microswitch 44, to a dummy operative contact point.

travelling arm 94, connectedto the G pitch microswitch g 43, between a dummy contact pointand an operative contact point 96 connected to the contact 49 and to the reverse microswitch 41. I 'I' Relay C comprises a Winding connected to resting contact of relay D. This vwinding actuates two travelling Relay 3 comprises a winding which is connected to the multivibrator 8-6 and which serves to move a contacts 99 and IOi) connected to the line'70, moving the latter onto an operative contact 102 connected to contact 50 and to travelling contact'90, the former onto an opera- I tive contact connected to the travelling arm of relay. D and to the automaticity button 73. .The winding of relay Dis connected to contact 49 and to reverse microswitch 41,, and causes travelling arm of said relayD, to. move frornits resting contact to its operative dummycontact.

An indicator light is connected across the terminals of Propeller pitch variationsare-transmitted to the pitch control lever 6 through the cable systern36 and the pulleys 37 to 39, or by any other suitable mechanical means, 1

' 4&0

torsion bars being an example.

- Acted upon by the cam 40, I r a V (a) The microswitch 41 has its contact open whenthe propeller is at "maximum reverse pitch, and, closed over I the pitch range extending from maximum reverseto feathered;v 1

(b) The microswitch 42 has its contact closed only at g-pitch, which is the zero-thrustpitch providing. a braking efiect that exactly ofisetsthe turbine residual thrust at take-off engine r.p.m., under static conditions;

(c) The microswitch 43 has its contact open between maximum reverse pitch and, G-pitch, the latter pitch pressure exerted against the face 38 of operative piston being higher than g, and closed between G-pitch .and V I feathered; I

(d) The microswitch'44 has its contactclosedfro'm A maximum reverse pitch onwards and opened when the propeller reaches the feathered position.

It is to be noted that, as described 1n the aforementioned U.S. patent application filed on January 11, 1960,

the temperature regulator box and the switchingbox 87 associated. to this electro-rnechanical equipment ful .fil, in terms of the maximumpermissible temperature-I,

. A. f, 12- (3) In the manual or the automatic control mode,

blocking of the pitch control lever 6 in the direction of pitch coarsening when the maximum permissible temperature T is reached. Y I

(4) In the event of overstepping of the maximum permissible temperature T, automatic reduction of the blade pitch angle until a true temperature t less than T is restored or until a predetermined minimum pitch G is reached (12 centesimal degress for certain propellers).

The overspeed safety device requires the use of the contacts 34m and m, operation of which is linked to the position of the tachometric regulator metering device 15211, of supplementary contacts 34am and 35am for the relay D to cut off the supply to-the automatic maximum powering relay C, and of a contact 51am which is linked I mechanically to the safety, contact 51 which secures the throttle lever 5 in the closed position These three contacts 34m-35m, 34am 35'am and 51am are inserted in series into a circuit whichis, shuntedacross. the general control line 76 and the line connecting the normally-open contact operated by the pitch control lever 6 to the travelling arm 90 of relay A, said relay A being used to cut Off automatic or manual energizing of the high pitch field winding which is supplied by the multivibrator 35 associated to the actual turbine exit temperature 1 whichis equal to themaximum chosen temperature T for exit from said turbine.

The contacts 34m-35m remain open as long as the meteringwdevice 15m has, not reached .its closed limit stop. The contacts Mam-35am remain closed as long as.

the relay D has not been switched in, thatis to say as long as no manual or automatic pitch reduction has been :commanded. The contact'51am is open when the throttle lever 5 is in the closed positionand closes as soonas said ,lever beginsto open.

When the turbine is started, the lever. 5 is kept in the closed position until cruise-rpm. is .reached. .Furthermore, at the beginning of the starting operation, the metering device ifim'will be against its closed limit stop following upon the previous engine shut-down, and the Econtacts 34m35m will be closed. 7 The lever 5 being 7 "closed, theopen contact 51am cuts out the high pitch circuit via contacts 34m-35m during the engine starting phase, this being a phase during which .it is vital that the blade pitch should not increase. v

During an aircraft manoeuvre in flight,resulting in the I vtachometric regulator metering device 15m being fetched against its closed limit stop without any manual or automatic pitch'reductionhaving been commanded, closure of contacts; 34m-35'm, asthe result of nullification of the 14m, provokes automatic increasing of the-propeller blade pitch until the metering devic'e begins tov open once more, whetherthea'utomatic powering button 73 is closedor (not. The setsjof contacts' 51am and 34am-35am being both closed, the coil 72 of the high pitch relay 58. i then energized via the circuit formed by: common line53; re-

' Iversing switch' 67; line 70; closed contacts 34m -35m;

closed contacts 34am35am; closed'contactSlam; travelling .arm *against resting contact 91; closed feathering microswitch44; winding 72'; earth; Switchingin' of the for the gas exiting from theturbine, which temperature is set by theslider 32 of potentiometer 31, the following four when the pilot presses the automaticity button which induces the self-energization of relay C through its travelling contact'99 functions: I r 1 ii (1) Automatic maximum powering of thetnrbine, i;e.,

value for which the turbine furnishes its maximum power,

withdue regard for'p revailing flight conditions. Q

relay 58 provokes energizing, via the line 53, 'ofthepitch, increasingfield'winding 50 ofthemotor 4 until either of a the sets 'of contacts S im-35m "or 3 m f'35am opens, that is to say when the metering'device 1 5m has begunto open oncerno're" or when the temperature 1' of the gas exiting automatic increasingofJthe'bladepitch angle {up :to a.

' '(2)Breakingr0lfof.the automatic-maximumpowering,

" f either through overstepping of the set maximumlpermissi ble'temperature Tor through a manual reductionof the.

a in the relays B and D.

from theturbine'exceedsthe selected maximum temperature T set upon the potentiorneter 31, thereby tripping This action of the sets of contacts 51am,j34n z -.-'T3 5m and s4am 3sqm supplements those of the various.,other control rnemb ers shown iii-FIG. 9 withoutin anyway aflfecting ,their'operation. In; particular, should the temi pejrature t of; the gas on exit pfrorng -the turbine, as measured by the thermocouples 33, reach the value T preset on the'potentiometer 31, the resulting tripping in of the relay A which fetches the travelling arm 90 onto the operative contact point 91 precludes, during that time, the possibility of any setting of the pitch varying system in operation in the direction of increasing pitch, such as might be triggered by closure of the contacts 34m-35m. Similarly, should the temperature t of the gas exiting from the turbine, as measured by the thermocouples 33 exceed the value T preset on the potentiometer 31, the resulting tripping in of relays B and D cuts out, through opening of the contacts 34am-35am, the high pitch circuit, in the event of the latter having been closed by closure of the contacts 34m-35m as the result of turbine overspeeding provoked by a pitch reduction due to tripping in of the relay B. Priority is in fact always given to pitch reduction, regardless of whether it has been manually or automatically commanded, such a pitch reduction command causing tripping in of relays B and D in the automatic control mode or of relay D in the manual control mode, and, hence, opening of contacts 34am- 35am.

A set of contacts 136-138 is connected in series with the contacts 90-91 of relay A, the purpose of this relay being to cut ofi automatic or manual energizing of the high pitch field winding 60 supplied by the multivibrator 85 when the true temperature I on exit from the turbine is equal to the selected maximum temperature T. As long as both these sets of contacts remain closed, the coil 72 of the high pitch contactor 58 can be energized, either for manual control, off the contact 50 of pitch control lever 6 and via the contacts 90-91 and 136-138 and the feathering microswitch 44, or for automtatic control only permissible by the closure of the automatic powering button 73 with the contact 100-102 closed, directly off the line 53 and via the reversing switch 67 and the contacts 100-102, 90-91 and 136-138. If either of the contacts 90-91 or 136-138 opens, the high pitch feeder circuit is broken and the pitch can be increased no further, this breaking of the circuit being caused by whichever of these two contacts opens first.

A contact 136-139 is connected in parallel with the contact 94-96 and causes, whether the automatic powering button 73 is closed or not automatic reduction of the pitch when it is closed, namely when Qacwal tends to exceed Q the circuit involved being: common line 53, reversing switch 67, line 70, pitch rnicroswitch G43, closed contact 136-139, reverse microswitch 41, winding 74 and earth. This action is analogous to that of contact 94-96, when the true temperature I of the gas on exit from the turbine exceeds the maximum permissible temperature T.

A contact 137-140 is connected in parallel across the line 70 and the contact 50 of pitch control lever 6 and, when closed, namely when Qactual attains Q causes automatic increasing of the pitch until it opens once more, whether the automatic powering button 73 is closed- The contact 154-155, which remains open as long as the propeller is exerting forward thrust, is also connected in parallel across the line 70 and the contact 7 50; when closed, it causes, in analogous fashion to the contact 137-140, automatic increasing of the pitch until the propeller is exerting forward thrust once more. Similarly, the contact 34m-35m, which remains open so long as the isodrorne regulator is fulfilling its regulating function, is also connected in parallel across the line 70 and the contact 50, in a circuit incorporating, in series, the contact 34am-35am giving priority to commanded pitch reductions and the contact 51am prohibiting automatic pitch increases during the engine starting phase. When it closes, the contact 34m-35m causes, in analogous fashion to the contacts 137-140 and 154-155, automatic increasing of the pitch until functioning of the isodrome regulator is restored, unless a pitch reduction is comrnanded, whether the automatic powering button 73 is closed or not.

If one of contacts 137-140, 154-155 or 34m-35m closes and no pitch reduction is commanded via the latter, then whichever of these three contacts closes first will cause a pitch increase via the circuit: common line 53; reversing switch 67; line 70; closed contact 137-140, 154-155 or 34m-35m; closed feathering microswitch 44; winding 72; earth. The motor 4 is driven in the direction of increasing pitch by closure of the circuit: common line 53, closed relay 58, high pitch winding 60 and earth. I

The contacts 136 through are arranged on either side of the beam-lever 131 (FIG. 2), in such a way that as long as the Qmual rate of flow is comprised between Q and Q the contact 136-138 remains closed and the contact 137-140 open, thereby permitting automatic or manual control over pitch increase or only manual reduction thereof. If the Q rate of flow reaches Q the contact 136-138 opens, thereby breaking the automatic pitch increase circuit slightly before the Q value is reached, while at the same time leaving the pilot with the faculty of further increasing the pitch manually, and when the Qactual and Q values become equal, the contact 136-139 is established and provokes automatic pitch reduction until the contact 136-138 is re-established and the automaticity function tripped out if it Was in service.

Onto the aforementioned functions of the temperature regulator bOX are superimposed the commands formulated by the devices used to compare the actual and theoretical rates of flow, to measure for the propeller the difference Ap=(p -p and to prevent overspeeding, in such a way as to ensure full safety for the turbine and the aircraft under the following conditions:

(1) If the temperature T set by the potentiometer 31 is reached before the Qacmal rate of flow is equal to Q it shall be impossible to increase the blade pitch in order to reach Q and, conversely, if the Qactual rate of flow reaches Q and the resulting gas temperature on exit from the turbine is less than this temperature T set on the potentiometer 31 of regulator box 30, manual or automatic increasing of the pitch shall likewise be prevented.

(2) If the propeller reaches the zero-thrust blade pitch angle, with AP equal to zero, or if the tachometric regulator is no longer fulfilling its regulating function, then, provided no pitch reduction is commanded before the Q rate of flow is reached, the blade pitch is made to increase automatically until the propeller is exerting slight forward thrust once more or the servo-controlled metering device has become operative again; conversely, if the Qacmal rate of flow reaches the Q value before the propeller has reached the zero-thrust blade setting or if the tachometric regulator is no longer fulfilling its regulating function, the device comparing the rates of flow commands automatic pitch coarsening to make the Qmual rate of flow greater than the Q flow.

(3) Automatic reduction of the propeller blade pitch in the event of the set temperature T or the Q rate of flow being exceeded slightly is made possible only if the blade pitch is higher than the preset value G, 12 centesimal degrees say, this automatic pitch reduction being prevented from causing the blade pitch to fall below the aforementioned preset value, but the pilot being nevertheless allowedthe faculty of commanding a lower pitch manually.

This amounts to (a) Automatic or manual pitch increasing being arrested by whichever of the parameters T or Q, is reached first;

(b) Automatic pitch reduction alone being arrested by whichever of the parameters propeller AP, Q metering device against closed limit stop (provided no pitch reduction is commanded), or blade pitch G arises first; if one of the first three of these parameters is reached, it will cause; an automatic increase of the blade pitch until the propeller is exerting forward thrust once more, until the Qmual rate of flow has become higher than Q again,

1, while the device {designed-toproitide a visual a of, propeller. thrust conditions ence to FIG. 6. 7 u J t p i; g Asfsjtated' precedingly, the systemsused to compar the operative once more, depending on which parameter is or until the servo-controlled metering device has become involved, the blade pitch limit G onlypreventing automatic pitch reduction below that limit.

The comparison, in percentage form, between the Qactual rate of'flow and the Q and Q theoretical rates of flow can be visualized by means of the device shown in FIG. 4. 1

Referring now to that figure, the device for visualizing the comparison betweenthe Q Qacmal and Q rates of flow consists of a dial 161 on which reference marks 162 and 163, the angularspacing' between which is definitely adjusted beforehand, can bepositioned over the dial by meansof a set screw 164. A deformable diaphragm 165, having a spring 166 and a setscrew 167, is housed in anenclosure 168 into which the fuel pressures p and p upstream and downstream of the metering device 113 are led via passageways 115a and 116a tapped off the passageways 115 and 116 which themselves branch '7 off the conduit 9 upstream and downstream respectively of the metering device 113. t The deformations of the diaphragm 165 in response to thefuel pressures p and 2 are transmitted by a'rod 169 to the slider 174) of a I potentiometer 171 provided with an adjustable resistor 172. The differences in potential measured by potentiometer 171,-which are proportional to the deformations-of diaphragm 165 andtherefore to variations in t PcF( 1 c p2c) are transmitted to a galvanometer Whichcauses rotation of a pointer 173 on theipercent-graduated dial 161, between the reference marks 162 and 163. This rotation of the pointer will be proportional at all timesto the value of Ap and therefore to the variations of Q r Since the final setting for the referenc'e'marks-162' and I 163 .is made on the ground, Withldue account for the value of (P P and for the theoretical maximum and 7 minimum rates of flow correspondingto it, the position of the pointer 173 between the marks162 and163 gives the pilot an indication of the value of the rate of vention, in which. a direct comparison is made between; on the one hand, the Qactual rate of flow determinedby the position of the'metering device .17Qof-tachometric regulator 18 when the diflierencebetween the fuel pressures p and p upstream and'downstreamof metering 'device 17 is maintained constantby a' capsule-174 which is connected tothe conduit '9 via 1ines:175-and 176 and which controls theposition of a second metering' devicej 177 and, on the other hand,the Q rate of flb'wfdeter:

mined by the device 110a to which are-communicated the air pressures P and P via the passageways 'jlllzuand mm. 9 in lieu of said'contacts 135 through 14m As shown in FIGI' l3, the device for visualizing the 112a. A mechanical coupling 178' between metering-de vice 17 and the device 110afen-ables appropriate commands to beII'al'lSHlltt6d via the conductive cluster 179 gbhmarison bctweehjhthe QniaxQcwal Qmm rates of "flow in.the overallcontrol system of FIGS. and 11" consist ofa potentiometer 18 9- 'having an adjustable resistor 190, displacement ofthe slider 191 of said potento the circuits 30a which couple the temperatureregulator box 30. andthe pitch control lever 6,'functional descrip -v tions of bothof which have been given precedingly, to

the pitch, varying sys'tem actuator motor 4. Insofar as the turbopropeller, the propeller :3 and itsmotor 4," the V pitch control lever figthefuelapump '7, the fuel cock 10,

-. the tachometric regulator 18 and thehydraulic propeller;- {feathering device 158 are concernedythe installation lay .out is the same asi th at described with reference to FIG. di p y is as-described with eferrates of flow consist of a capsule 174 and a device 110:; both of which are illustrated on FIG. 11.

The capsule 174 encloses adeiormable diaphragm 186 having a spring 181 and a set screw'182, and the two faces of this capsule are caused to be subjected, via lines 175 and 176, totthe fuel, pressures p and p prevailing upstream'and downstream respectively of the metering device 17 ofthe tachometric regulator 18. When the diaphragmfis inithe :steady 'state under the action of the pressures exerted ,on. its two faces, the, difference (p -p is equal toTa preset value corresponding to the theoretical maximum rate of fuel fiow to which corresponds the strength of the spring 181. The metering device 177 is connected to the diaphragm 180 and inserted into the conduit 9 where it positions itself for the difference (p -17 g) to be equal to the value set by the strength of. the spring 181'; This being so, the rate of fuel flow through the section Sd,fas determined by the position of the metering device 17, will be directly proportional to the area of that section, as shown in FIG.

' 12a, in which the Qacwal rate of flow is plotted against .the section Sd ofiered by the metering device :17 for A rod 183, sliding in a guideway (p -p =constant. I 184 and coupled to the metering device 17, moves proportionally with variation of the section Sn! and hence with the Qactual rate of fiow through that section.

against the parameter (P -P the section area required in the conduit 9 torensure-Q with (p p .)f:co nstant and the theoretical Q rate of flow, displacements of the trunnion 185 due to variations of the parameter (P P are proportional to Q and therefore to the section S to be offered to the fuel by the conduit 9'to ensure (p -p :constant. The coupling rod ,178 has an eye 186 at one end, 'into which engages the'trunnion 185, and a yoke 187 at its other end, in which slides a pin 188mounted on the rod 183. This pin 188 positions oneendEof the coupling 178 according to the value of j "Q while the I trunnion 185 positions its other end according to the valueof Q Thus, by the process of the. coupling 178,-this device enables Qacmal to be compared with, Q Travelling contacts 136a and 137a are placed one on each side of the coupling 178 at distances. from the trunnion1185 bearing the ratio 'Q /Q j ike the device described with reference to FIG. '2', the travelling contact arm 136a is flanked by two fixed. contactlpoint s 138i: and 139a, and a fixed con- *tact pointilwtz is"positionedtbeside the Contact 137a. Thesevar'ious contacts,.namelyg136a through 140a, 'ful I i fill functions identical tothose ofthe' contacts 136 through 140 in the device described with reference toFIG. 2, and'are' integrated-into l the electrical wiring diagram 0 ,tiomet er being controlled by thlrodlZZa of the device a. Thegvoltage ,U which is determined by the position of the slider 191'1fand is proportional to the value of Q causesdisplacement, through the medium" of a ;-'galvanon1eter,.ofa pointer 192 over'thedial, graduated in litres/hour, of anindicatorzinstrument1931 The pointer V.- 192 indicates meo rate of new corresponding to the value of (P P A voltage dividen which is connected 75 in parallelflto 'the line" 194 connecting the potentiometer together by a rod 209 bearing a trunnionllfi midway 214, a spring 215 and a set screw 216, and a beam lever 17 189 to the instrument 193 and which consists of two resistors 195i and 196 the values of which are respectively R and R feeds into a second galvanometer in the instrument 193 a voltage R1 5 RHFRQ such that 0 QLHBX F; Qms

thereby also indicating Q rate of flow on the dial by means of a pointer 197.

Displacements of the rod 183 coupled to the metering device 17 of tachometric regulator 18 in turn cause displacements of the slider 198 of the potentiometer 199 provided with and adjustable resistor 209. The voltage determined by the position of slider 198 on potentiometer 199, which is proportional to the section Sci and hence to the Qacwal rate of flow into the turbine, is received by a third galvanometer, which is mounted in the indicator instrument 193 and which causes displacement over the instrument dial of a pointer 291 which indicates the Qamml rate of flow in litres per hour and enables it to be compared with-the Q and Q values indicated by the pointers 192 and 197 respectively. The instrument 193 may be supplemented by an integrating counter 29-2 to indicate the total quantity of fuel consumed from the time the turbine was started, thereby informing the pilot of the quantity of fuel remaining in the tanks.

The overall systems described with reference to FIGS. 10 through 13, taken in conjunction with the mechanisms shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and the temperature regulating box 36', as schematically illustrated in FIG. 9 constltute the system executed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 shows a third embodiment of the mechanical portion of an overall control system according to the invention, in which use is made of an apparatus 2:153 to measure the fuel pressure differential Ap (p -p across a rigorously determined constriction 204 of fixed cross section inserted into the conduit 9 downstream of the metering device 17 of the tachometric regulator 18. 4 The Qacmal rate of flow through the constriction 204 is a function of Ap so that one may write Q =Sa- /Ap where S is the section of the constriction and ot a coefiicient, or, for a constant section Q fvnp A device 11%, to which the air pressures are transmitted via passageways 11th and 112b, determines the Q value in terms of the parameter (IQ-P A connection 215 joining the apparatus 263 to the device 119!) permits comparison between the Q and Qacmal values and transmission via an electrically conductive cluster 2% or" the necessary commands to the circuits 3% which respectively couple the temperature regulating box 3% described with reference to FIG. 9 and the pitch control lever 6- to the actuating motor 4 of the :pitch varying system.

As in the case of the second embodiment, the remainder of the installation layout is as described with reference to FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 shows the assembly comprising the apparatus 203, the device 11% and the connection 265', together with the electric contacts operated by the latter.

The apparatus 203, which is designed to compare the fuel pressure p and 1 upstream and downstream respectively of the constriction 264, consists of two opposed capsules 267 and 208 the ends of which are connected along its length. To these capsules are communicated,

. via the passageways 211 and 212, the pressures p and 17 Capsule 268 comprises a highly sensitive adjustment device consisting of a connecting rod 213 having a roller 18 217 associated to a set screw 218. Displacements of the trunnion 218 in response to variations in (p -12 are proportional to up and hence to (Q fl as shown in FIG. 16a.

The device 11% consists of a capsule 113b, associated to a spring 11% and a set screw 126b, which is enclosed in a chamber 121b and subjected, via the passageways 1111b and 112b, to the air pressures P and P The rod 1212b connected to the end of capsule 11 b moves linearly in terms of the value (Pg-P1), namely in terms of Q as shown in FIG. 16b. The end of rod 1122b carries a rack 219 meshing with a pinion 229 mounted on the same shaft as a cam 221. As shown in FIG. 160, the angular displacements B of pinion 220 and cam 221 are proportional to (P -P and hence to Q FIG. 16d shows the radius of the cam 221 plotted against (P P The connection 205 conissts of a pivotable rod 222 provided with an eye 223 to surround the trunnion 210. Said rod carries at one end thereof a cam follower 224 maintained in pressure contact against cam 221 by a spring 225. The radius of cam 221 and rack 219 are so determined that the rod 222 is in equilibrium for a preset value of (pmr which corresponds to the theoretical maximum rate of fuel flow. The travelling contacts 136'!) and 1337b and the fixed contacts 13812, 13% and 14012, which fulfill identical functions to those of contacts 136 through 146) of the device described with reference to FIG. 2, are integrated into the electrical wiring diagram of FIG. 9 in lieu of those contacts. Said contacts are placed on each side of the pivotable' rod 222 at distances from the trunnion 219 bearing the ratio Q /Q The displacements of the connection 205 provide the required comparisons between the rates of flow.

The device for visualizing the comparison between the values of the Q Q and Q rates of flow in the overall control system shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 is illus trated in FIG. 17. A slider 226 actuated by the rod 12% travels over the potentiometer 2Z7 associated to an ad justment resistor 223. The differences in potential measured by this potentiometer, which are proportional to (Pg-P1) and hence to Q are applied to a first galvanometer of an indicator instrument 193a and cause displacements of a pointer 192a which are proportional to Q A voltage divider, similar to the one used in the visualizing device in FIG. 13 and comprising two resistors 195a and 196a, enables the Q rate of flow to be shown on the dial of instrument 193a by means of a second galvanometer and a pointer 17a. A slider 229 fixed to the trunnion 210 of rod 209 is translated along a potentiometer 230 associated to an adjusting resistor 231 which is wound to reproduce the law Q =f /Ap The differences in potential measured by this potentiometer 238 are applied to a third galvanometer of the instrument 193a on which a pointer 201a indicates the value of Q As described with reference to FIG. 13, the inclicator instrument 193a may be supplemented by an integrating counter 2i32a.

The overall systems described with reference to FIGS. 14 through 17, taken in conjunction with the mechanisms shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 and with the temperature reguportion of an overall control system according to the inventi-on, in which the rates of flow are compared by two devices 232 and 233, the remainder of the installation layout being as described with reference to FIG. 1. The

device 233 'is connected via the electrically conductive cluster 285 to the coupling circuits 30a.

The device 232, which reproduces the law of variation of the Q rate of flow in terms of the parameter (Pg-P1) has communicated to it the air pressures P and I P throu h the oassagewa s 11c and 112C, and the fuel 2 g r J I pressures p and p upstream and downstream respec-

Claims (1)

1. 7. A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE POWERPLANT OF AN AERODYNE HAVING A GAS TURBINE AND AN AERODYNAMIC PROPELLING DEVICE DRIVEN THEREBY AND EQUIPPED WITH BLADES THE PITCH OF WHICH MAY BE VARIED, COMPRISING MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE QUANTITY OF FUEL DELIVERED TO THE TURBINE IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT THE WORKING ROTATION SPEED THEREOF, MEANS FOR INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLING MANUALLY THE BLADE PITCH OF THE PROPELLING DEVICE BETWEEN THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM PERMISSIBLE PITCHES, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY COMPARING THE ACTUAL TURBINE TEMPERATURE WITH AN UPPER LIMIT CORRESPONDING TO THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE TEMPERATURE FOR SAID TURBINE, MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY COMPARING THE ACTUAL RATE OF FLOW FOR THE FUEL DELIVERED TO SAID TURBINE WITH UPPER AND LOWER LIMITS RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING TO THE THEORETICAL MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM RATES OF FUEL FLOW FOR SAID TURBINE AND, INDEPENDENTLY FROM ANY MANUAL CONTROLLING ACTION, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY REDUCING THE BLADE PITCH AS SOON AND AS LONG AS THE FIRST ONE OF THE ACTUAL TURBINE TEMPERATURE AND OF THE ACTUAL RATE OF FUEL FLOW TENDS TO EXCEED ITS UPPER LIMIT, MEANS FOR AUTOMATICALLY INCREASING THE BLADE PITCH AS SOON AS THE FIRST ONE OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL RATE OF FUEL FLOW AND ITS LOWER LIMIT AND OF THE FUEL FEEDING IN FLIGHT FOR THE TURBINE TENDS TO A ZERO VALUE, AND MEANS FOR RENDERING SUCH BLADE PITCH INCREASING MEANS, WHEN THE FUEL FEEDING IN FLIGHT TENDS TO A ZERO VALUE, INOPERATIVE IN THE CASE OF A MANUALLY CONTROLLED PITCH DECREASING.

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